Bionano Genomics (NASDAQ: BNGO) has appointed Alex Hastie, Ph.D., as chief scientific officer, effective July 20, 2026, according to a company press release.

Hastie previously spent 14 years at Bionano, where he contributed to the development of the company's optical genome mapping (OGM) technology. He most recently worked in genomic testing in oncology for diagnosis and therapy selection before returning to the San Diego-based company.

In his new role, Hastie will oversee Bionano's scientific strategy, innovation roadmap, and research initiatives. The company said his focus will include strengthening clinical and research collaborations, expanding evidence generation, and broadening OGM applications for clinical research use.

Al Luderer, chairman and interim chief executive officer of Bionano, said in the statement: "His deep institutional knowledge, scientific vision, and history of innovation at Bionano uniquely position him to lead our scientific organization."

Several researchers from academic medical institutions offered comments on the appointment. Alexander Hoischen, professor of genomic technologies at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, said Hastie "was essential in our early collaborative studies to bring OGM into routine use." Ying Zou, director of the Cancer Genomics Lab at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said the appointment is "an exciting development for the field."

Hastie said in the release: "We are entering a season of reinvention and new possibilities. While I am proud of the foundation we built in the past, it is time to look to a future where we will provide an expanding portfolio of novel and robust solutions for clinical genomic research."

Bionano offers OGM solutions for research applications, genome analysis software, and nucleic acid extraction and purification products. The company also provides OGM-based diagnostic testing services through its Bionano Laboratories subsidiary. Its products are designated for research use only and are not approved for diagnostic procedures.